This week was so jam-packed that we had to cut the entire news segment, but don’t worry, we’ll get around to that in our next episode. Instead, we react to last week’s Oscar nominations with theories on everything from the race row, to the surprise Marion Cotillard inclusion, to the unexpected haul for “American Sniper”. We also review Clint Eastwood’s latest delight, as well as other nominated films, including musical drama “Whiplash,” and soul-searching adventure “Wild,” starring Cal’s favourite, Reese Witherspoon. We’re on board with a wine-quaffing Kevin Kline in Parisian jaunt “My Old Lady,” and Pete dishes all on Alicia Vikander’s received pronunciation in wartime romance “Testament of Youth,” which featured too much Oxford reverence for his liking. Elsewhere, Bradley Cooper’s fuller face is up for scrutiny, there’s an unexpected bit of advocacy from Jane Fonda, and Sienna Miller’s dark locks threaten to steal the gold in The Pootsition.

Preconception Corner

Reviews of:

American Sniper 10:40 – 22:24

Whiplash 22:25 – 37:21

My Old Lady 37:22 – 45:50

Testament of Youth 45:51 – 54:40

Wild 54:41 – 1:07:23

Closing Segment: Our reaction to the Oscar nominations, featuring discussion of the snubs, the race row, and the quality of the nominees as a whole!

We’re a little late this week, but we hope it’s worth the wait, as Cal has been to the London Film Festival, bringing news of films by Christian Petzold, Andrei Zvyagintsev, Francois Ozon, and a doozy of a performance by Reese Witherspoon. The week’s reviews consist of IRA thriller “’71,” starring everyone’s favourite young actor, Jack O’Connell, and scriptwriting comedy “The Rewrite,” which was somewhat overshadowed by Marisa Tomei’s jeans. Cal saw Susan Sarandon play Sheriff in religious serial killer drama “The Calling,” which just about escaped the dreaded “F” grade, while we also had time to discuss Stephen Frears’ BFI Fellowship, Lindsay Lohan’s theatre stint, and Michelle Pfeiffer’s history at the Oscars. Elsewhere, we argue about the main concerns of Billy Wilder’s “Sunset Boulevard,” pimp an underseen German exorcist drama, and chat about the eclectic cast of Judd Apatow’s upcoming film, the title of which greatly amuses Pete.

The Week’s News:

Stephen Frears receives a BFI Fellowship

[5:40 – 14:30]

Opening Segment: Coverage from the London Film Festival, featuring discussion of “Leviathan,” “The New Girlfriend,”“Phoenix,” and “Wild”

Irini M. returns this week to help us discuss our favourite films and performances from 2014 so far, leading to a disagreement about Wes Anderson, yet more discussion of Xavier Dolan, and a fierce defence of a podcast fantasy favourite. The week’s reviews see us flirt with both familiarity and contempt, as Cedric Klapisch’s trilogy-capping “Chinese Puzzle” was finally released in the UK, while not all of us were happy about the Venice trophy haul of Greek family drama “Miss Violence.” We tackle cancer flick “The Fault In Our Stars,” Cal goes it alone for Clint Eastwood’s foray into the musical genre, “Jersey Boys,” while the latest batch of non-sporting news calls for a Desplat love-in, and a discussion of everyone’s favourite Hong Kong auteur. Pete continues to liken the faults of World Cinema to Roy Hodgson’s World Cup tactics, a listener question provokes a passionate defence of Greek patriotism from Irini, and a controversial pitch for a new Jennifer Lopez rom-com provides an early FYC for next year’s compilation.

The week’s news:

Alexandre Desplat announced as the President of the jury at this year’s Venice Film Festival

Wong Kar-Wai’s new film is on the way

Gerry Conlon, subject of the film “In the Name of the Father,” dies aged 60

[2:30 – 14:45]

Listener Questions from Ibbi

[14:50 – 20:35]

Preconception Corner

Reviews of:

The Fault In Our Stars

Chinese Puzzle

Miss Violence

Jersey Boys

[33:45 – 1:14:00]

Closing Segment:2014’s mid-year awards, in which we discuss our favourite and least favourite films and performances from the year so far!